Save Abstract ExpressionismSave Abstract Expressionism

• Introduction:Introduction: Something terrible happened last month, disrupting a cultural center Something terrible happened last month, disrupting a cultural center

of our community. A fire broke out in the Museum of Art, and many of our community. A fire broke out in the Museum of Art, and many invaluable pieces of art were destroyed. The firefighters managed to contain it invaluable pieces of art were destroyed. The firefighters managed to contain it and save most of the museum, but the wing containing the and save most of the museum, but the wing containing the abstract abstract expressionistexpressionist art was lost entirely. The abstract expressionist movement was art was lost entirely. The abstract expressionist movement was extremely important, and it defined the way we view art today, but the extremely important, and it defined the way we view art today, but the museum has yet to decide whether they will rebuild, or simply cut their losses.museum has yet to decide whether they will rebuild, or simply cut their losses.

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TaskTask

• Your job is to convince the museum Your job is to convince the museum of the importance of abstract of the importance of abstract expressionism. Then, decide on new expressionism. Then, decide on new works of art to exhibit in the rebuilt wing.works of art to exhibit in the rebuilt wing.

• Document all of your findings in a Document all of your findings in a journal and be prepared to explain what journal and be prepared to explain what you have learned.you have learned.

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Step 1Step 1• 1. Your team must present a solid argument to the museum explaining the importance of abstract 1. Your team must present a solid argument to the museum explaining the importance of abstract

expressionism to the art world. To do so, you will have to explore the state of art before and after the expressionism to the art world. To do so, you will have to explore the state of art before and after the abstract expressionists.abstract expressionists.

• 2. Explore the art of the late 1800s and the early 1900s to better understand what led up to abstract 2. Explore the art of the late 1800s and the early 1900s to better understand what led up to abstract expressionist movement. expressionist movement.

• 3. Explore abstract expressionist art. Get a feel for what the artists were trying to accomplish, and be 3. Explore abstract expressionist art. Get a feel for what the artists were trying to accomplish, and be prepared to explain their intentions.prepared to explain their intentions.

• 4. Look at examples of contemporary art and try to draw parallels between certain examples and past 4. Look at examples of contemporary art and try to draw parallels between certain examples and past abstract expressionists.abstract expressionists.

Each group member should have a clear understanding of the movement, and should be able Each group member should have a clear understanding of the movement, and should be able to explain the importance of the movement. Prepare an argument that explains the movement’s to explain the importance of the movement. Prepare an argument that explains the movement’s significance to the art world, and convince the museum to rebuild the destroyed wing.significance to the art world, and convince the museum to rebuild the destroyed wing.

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Step 2Step 2• Once you have successfully convinced the museum to rebuild the wing, you will have to Once you have successfully convinced the museum to rebuild the wing, you will have to

find new works of abstract expressionist art to exhibit. Decide on 5-7 artists that best find new works of abstract expressionist art to exhibit. Decide on 5-7 artists that best represent the movement. Then, learn about each of these artists and select a few works represent the movement. Then, learn about each of these artists and select a few works by each to pitch to the museum. Be prepared to defend your choice of artists.by each to pitch to the museum. Be prepared to defend your choice of artists.

• 1. Decide as a team on which artists you would like to display in the wing. These artists 1. Decide as a team on which artists you would like to display in the wing. These artists should be exemplary abstract expressionists. should be exemplary abstract expressionists.

• 2. Assign each team member 1 or 2 artists to research. 2. Assign each team member 1 or 2 artists to research.

• 3. Explore and understand the methods of each artist. Then choose 2-4 works by each 3. Explore and understand the methods of each artist. Then choose 2-4 works by each artist that you would like to display in the museum. Find high-resolution images of these artist that you would like to display in the museum. Find high-resolution images of these works and download them. These works should be just representations of the artists.works and download them. These works should be just representations of the artists.

• 4. Embed the images in a Powerpoint museum space of your creation.4. Embed the images in a Powerpoint museum space of your creation.

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• http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/abstractexpr.html

• http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/abex/hd_abex.htm

• http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/abstract-expressionism.html

• http://www.artchive.com/artchive/abex.html

• http://wwar.com/masters/movements/abstract_expressionism.html

• http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/C20th/absexpress.htm

ResourcesResources

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EvaluationEvaluation

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ConclusionConclusion Thanks to your Thanks to your

efforts, the museum has efforts, the museum has decided to build a new, decided to build a new, state-of-the-art wing to state-of-the-art wing to house all of the abstract house all of the abstract expressionist work.expressionist work.

I hope you I hope you learned a great deal about learned a great deal about abstract expressionism, abstract expressionism, how it came to be, and how it came to be, and how it has influenced how it has influenced today’s artists.today’s artists.

Intro Task Step1 Step2 Resources Evaluation ConclusionIntro Task Step1 Step2 Resources Evaluation Conclusion